My Day With The MCC

The weather was fantastic as I walked through the W G Grace Gate
at Lord's with my two guests. Following my 112 not out against the
MCC at school the year before, I had been looking forward to this
day, my reward, with great anticipation. The match I had been
invited to was the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka.

On arrival at 10.00am we were escorted to the elegant Thomas
Lord Suite for a full English breakfast. It was exciting eating
breakfast overlooked by huge photos of former England Cricket
Captains. On the table was a complimentary copy of the MCC Annual
Report, containing write-ups from all their games, including ours,
and a list of the boys that had achieved either a century or five
wickets against the MCC the previous year (twelve boys in total) -
great mementos. It was very interesting to meet and share the day
with lads from schools all over the country, including Harrow,
Millfield and Sedburgh.

After breakfast we were shown to our seats - Row 4 in the Grand
Stand, behind mid-wicket. Perfect! We were treated to the spectacle
of Matt Prior reaching his century and Stuart Broad getting his
fifty and in the afternoon Tillakaratne Dilshan hitting his first
century at Lord's.

Lunch was served to us, once again in the Thomas Lord Suite,
smoked Salmon followed by Chicken - very tasty.

During the afternoon session all the boys were escorted from our
seats in the Grand Stand and treated to a tour of the famous Lord's
Pavilion with its renowned Long Room. It was amazing to walk in the
footsteps of so many famous players at the Home of Cricket.

To my surprise a table was placed on the pitch during afternoon
tea, and we were escorted down the players' steps and through the
famous gate onto the pitch to receive our commemorative plaque from
Christopher Martin-Jenkins, President of MCC and veteran Test Match
Special broadcaster. It was a fantastic honour and very exciting to
see my name on the scoreboard in front of a Lord's crowd -
something I will never forget. It is truly inspiring and makes me
determined to walk onto the pitch again one day, but with a bat in
my hand next time.

I have thoroughly enjoyed playing cricket throughout my years at
Bolton School, and I am very grateful for the opportunities that it
has provided for me to play at a good standard in some really
competitive games. My century against the MCC was the pinnacle of
my school cricket, along with the subsequent day that I spent as a
guest of the MCC - a treat and honour that I will cherish, and one
which I really hope some future Bolton School Cricketers will also
get to experience.

Giles Makinson, Year 13

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Giles Makinson at Lord's, the home of cricket with veteran commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins. Photo courtesy of Matt Bright